Black Hole Sun

Sunrise:6:51 a.m.
Sunset: 4:41 p.m. (this is not a typo)
Daytime: approx. 10 hours
Time when my alarms goes off: 6:45 a.m.
Time I leave for work: 8:15ish a.m.
Time I get home: 5:30

It's that time of year when it's dark, very dark. We fell back last week. It's harsh -- mainly for the darkness. The cold I kind of like, but this period of darkness, no snow, and no leaves on the trees makes it seem worse somehow. Still I sucked it up and made it out for a run. (I had a flu shot which left me feeling drained headachy and vomitous on Wednesday, I've been off.)

Lately the running has seemed like work. And it's not supposed to be, I feel kind of big and sluggish. Didn't help that during my 3 miler on Tuesday, I got passed by the beautiful runners. It doesn't usually get to me. Had to get my club out. "Nat, just keep runnign you're doing fine." It's been slow lately.Very slow. As I approach dreaded 13 min/mil. I gave myself a stern talking to. You so totally do three miles faster than this. So I sprinted the last 0.1 mile.  And that made me feel good.

I think, in the dark, I need to push it. No more excuses. This weekend a 10K with Ms. G. Just a quicky before a wine tasting with a friend/colleague. (The Man doesn't drink/ her man doesn't care for wine... so we will go together. It's a great idea.) Meanwhile I am going to sit quietly and work out a plan... a good plan to keep me going and motivated. Fine some fun stuff and reclaim the joy.

Comments

[Pokey]

Tell me how I can help Nat. Whatcha need?

Daily kick in the butt? Competition? Virtual hug? You name it, and you GOT IT!

I'll tell you something though, hopping on that treadmill at 10mpm....even for just half a mile....sure makes me feel like a freaking ROCKSTAR!!! Do you have access to a dreadmill? Hop on there and push yourself a bit. I can definitely feel the difference in what my "comfort pace" is becoming....

You will do it. Tell us bloggity peeps what we can do to give you a little push :)

[viv]

That is a lot of darkness, Nat that could just bum me out. Hang in there, think the darkness is sexy, I am a sexy runner, 13 you do not turn me on..and so on repeat these affirmations :-)

Have a great 10K this weekend!

[Arizona Pat]

I'm in the dark too. No, literally I run in the dark too. :P

I like to watch my shadows under the street lights, smell the wonderful aroma of everyone's dinner and run past all the parents as the watch their kids play sports.

Believe it or not, the baseball teams were practicing the other day.

[Database Diva]

You get a big Amen from me on the darkness thing. P.U. The sun set at 4:39 tonight, and it just gets earlier for the next 6 weeks. We had some clearing this afternoon, so there was actual daylight, which helps. When we get the heavy mist & overcast, it is like 8 hours of twilight in between the dark. The trail isn't lit, and there are bears & cougars, and probably a few 2 legged predators, so the choice is to run on the streets (no shoulders, no sidewalks) or get a treadmill. I bought a treadmill. I did hear an interesting third option today -- "sit on the couch and eat candy". Don't know why I didn't think of that one!

Any chance you could get away to do a race in a sunnier location? Washington winter is peak flying time for me!

[Teacherwoman]

I am not enjoying the shorter days. I leave for work around 715, just when the sun is coming up and get home about an hour before the sun goes down (at 510). The sun is going to start setting earlier and it drives me crazy that my time away from work is when it's dark outside!